杜伦大学中国区招生负责人

Head of China Student Recruitment – Durham University
Location: Beijing or Shanghai
Department: International Office
Reporting to: Head of International Student Recruitment (Durham)
Package: Competitive Gross salary range between RMB 27,000 – RMB 32,000 per month (13-month scale) based on matched qualifications and experiences
Durham University:
Durham University is one of the world’s leading research-intensive universities, with global recognition across Arts and Humanities, Business, Sciences, and Social Sciences. Our collegiate university community provides a unique student experience and outstanding academic environment.
China represents Durham’s largest international student market and a strategic priority for the University’s global ambitions. We are seeking a leader to shape and deliver Durham’s China recruitment strategy, strengthen partnerships, and enhance the University’s brand in this critical region.
Role Purpose
The Head of China Student Recruitment is a leadership role responsible for driving strategic growth in student enrolment from Mainland China, ensuring Durham meets ambitious targets for student numbers, quality, and diversity.
The role combines strategic leadership, operational oversight, and senior representation. The postholder will lead the in-country recruitment team, manage key partnerships with schools and agents, and provide high-level market intelligence and insight to inform Durham’s international strategy.
This role requires a dynamic, entrepreneurial leader with extensive knowledge of the Chinese higher education and student recruitment landscape, strong UK HE experience, and proven ability to lead high-performing teams remotely.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership & Planning
• Develop, implement, and continuously refine Durham University’s China recruitment strategy, aligned with institutional internationalisation objectives.
• Lead the China recruitment team, defining performance objectives, fostering a high-performance culture, and ensuring professional development.
• Serve as Durham University’s senior recruitment representative in China, building credibility with key stakeholders, including government, agents, schools, and partner organisations.
2. Market Insight & Data-Driven Decision Making
• Conduct in-depth market research, competitor benchmarking, and horizon scanning to inform recruitment strategy and institutional decision-making.
• Analyse recruitment data across the full student lifecycle, utilising insights to optimise enrolment strategy, conversion, and ROI.
• Provide regular intelligence reports to senior University leadership on market trends, opportunities, and risks.
3. Partnership Development & Stakeholder Management
• Identify, develop, and maintain strategic partnerships with schools, agents, counsellors, sponsors, and other influential stakeholders.
• Lead the selection, training, and performance management of recruitment agents to ensure high standards of engagement and compliance.
• Represent Durham at major education fairs, virtual events, and institutional visits, enhancing brand visibility and recruitment conversion.
4. Brand & Marketing Leadership
• Collaborate with the Marketing & Communications team to deliver China-specific campaigns across digital and traditional channels, including WeChat, Weibo, Douyin, and other platforms.
• Lead initiatives to improve conversion across enquiry-to-application and application-to-registration pathways.
• Ensure recruitment strategies reflect Durham’s academic strengths, values, and international reputation.
5. Operational & Resource Management
• Oversee in-country recruitment team operations, including resource allocation, workload management, and performance monitoring.
• Manage the China recruitment budget, ensuring efficient deployment of financial and human resources to achieve institutional targets.
• Implement systems and processes to monitor team performance, recruitment outcomes, and partnership effectiveness.
6. Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Act as the primary liaison between the China recruitment team and Durham University departments, including Admissions, Academic Faculties, Colleges, Alumni, and Careers.
• Engage with professional bodies, government officials, and sector forums to enhance Durham’s profile and influence in China.
Person Specification
Essential
• Degree-level education in an English-speaking country.
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in international student recruitment or education management, with at least 3 years in a senior managerial role with budget and team responsibility.
• Demonstrated track record of developing and executing successful recruitment strategies in China.
• Strong leadership and team management skills, including experience managing remote teams.
• Extensive knowledge of the UK higher education sector and the Chinese international student market.
• Established network in China’s education sector (schools, agents, counsellors).
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills in both English and Mandarin.
• Financial and business acumen, with experience using data to drive strategic decisions.
• Willingness to travel extensively across China and internationally, and work flexibly outside standard hours.
Desirable
• Postgraduate qualification.
• Direct experience in student recruitment for a UK or other English-speaking university.
• Expertise in digital marketing and analytics in the Chinese context.
• Experience managing senior-level stakeholder and government relationships.
Benefits
• Competitive salary package, including basic gross salary, social insurance, medical insurance, housing fund, and generous leave entitlement.
• Annual pro-rata leave entitlement of 22 days.
• Opportunity to lead Durham University’s strategic growth in its most important international market.
How to Apply
Interested candidates are invited to send a one-page cover letter explaining how your personality and experience meet our requirements and an indication of your current and expected salary together with up-to-date CV via Zhaopin channel. Please use “Durham University–Recruitment–City-Candidate Name” as the subject of the email.
We regret that only shortlisted candidates will be notified and that applicants who fail to provide a cover letter and use wrong subject of the email will not be considered.
The closing date for applications is 9th March 2026. Shortlisted applicants are likely to be invited for interview in CBBC Office in the week of 23 March.
Telephone enquiries and personal visits will NOT be accepted.